Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
It was the Fourth of July, and they were finally going to Roe and Holden’s for the barbecue they’d been talking about since August had moved back. Grady and Deacon were going too, plus Vince, Colby, and Roe’s best friend Lindsey, who was Wyatt’s mom. Sean and his mama, Marilee, would be there as well. He assumed more people were invited, but he wasn’t sure.
Like last time, he was picking August and Reese up, and the three of them were going out together. Clint fed the pups, then headed over. He’d just pulled up when Reese came out of the house, jogged over, and climbed right in. “Dad’s talking to Pop. He’ll be out in a second. I wanted to ask you, Dad was talking about doing some work in the yard, and I was wondering if we could maybe make him a couple of the metal flower gardens? I can pay you for the material with the money I’m making at the farm. I don’t want Dad to know, though.”
Clint enjoyed that Reese came to him for this, not that he had other options. It wasn’t Clint specifically, he guessed, but the fact that Clint was the one who could weld and had the supplies. “For sure. But I don’t want you to pay me for it.” They were already working on a custom wine-bottle rack for Lewis, so Clint was quietly grateful that Reese asked to make August a gift too. He knew that August worried occasionally that Reese loved Lewis more than him, but Clint knew that wasn’t true. Sometimes, inadvertently, you neglected the people you trusted the most. But he could see in Reese’s eyes how much he looked up to August.
“Are you sure?” Reese asked.
“Absolutely.”
Reese smiled at him. “Thanks, Clint. You’re the best. I’m glad my dad has you for a friend.”
Jesus, he was a good kid. Clint couldn’t get over how much he’d blossomed since the first time he’d met him. “I’m glad too. I kinda like him.” He’d meant it as a joke, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could snatch them back. Would Reese read something into them? He’d feel like shit if he outed them to August’s son.
He breathed out in relief when Reese said, “Dad needs good friends. He doesn’t think I see it, but when Dad and Pop were together, I know most things were on Pop’s terms. He’s got this real big personality that overshadowed Dad. He always had more friends and did more things, so it’s cool that Dad now has his own friends and his own life.”
“You’re a good man,” Clint told him, and Reese beamed. Maybe because he’d called him a man and not a kid? Clint wasn’t sure.
“Thanks. And Pop’s not a jerk. I didn’t mean to make it sound like that. He’s a lot of fun.” His voice was slightly softer then, a sadness to it that Clint could feel. Reese loved August, but he also missed Lewis. He imagined that had to be hard for him.
“I would never think your pop is a jerk. I bet he misses you a lot.”
Reese shrugged just as the passenger door opened and August got in. “Sorry. I just had to finish talking to Lewis real quick. We got it all worked out, and Reese will be going to spend two weeks there soon.”
Frustration rolled off him in heavy waves, filling the truck. Clint forced himself not to reach over, put a hand on August’s thigh, and squeeze it in support. He wanted August to know he wasn’t alone. “Nothing to apologize for.” When August looked his way and gave Clint a small smile, Clint knew he’d heard in Clint’s voice what he’d wanted to say. That he was sorry and there for him. “You guys ready to do this?”
“Yep!” August and Reese both answered, so Clint turned around in the driveway and headed for Firefly Lane.
A few vehicles were already there when they arrived. He could see Roe’s grill going. Roe loved smoking meat for most of the day and made some of the best barbecue Clint had ever had.
There were tables outside, dogs running around, people with drinks in their hands, and kids playing. It looked like Roe’s siblings and their families were there too, along with his parents. There were a whole lot of Covingtons in Harmony.
“Holy crap,” Reese said.
“Welcome to Briar County.” Clint loved it here. He couldn’t imagine ever living anywhere else.
They got out of the truck just as another vehicle pulled up beside them. Clint looked over to see Deacon, Grady, and Grady’s nephew, Scout, who was wearing scuffed-up sneakers, a football T-shirt, and a flowy skirt that reached his knees, which was a new development as far as Clint knew. When Scout was there last summer, he’d kept his nails painted, and a few times had worn makeup. Grady said Scout had been nervous at first and was just getting used to wearing polish in public, but it looked like he was coming into his own even more. Clint made a mental note to make sure Scout’s pronouns hadn’t changed since the last time they met.